Rising doping cases threaten progress of Uganda’s female athletes

As Uganda continues to push for improved performance and increased representation of female athletes on the international stage, a worrying trend threatens to undermine this progress: a surge in doping cases involving women athletes.

Over the past two years, Uganda has recorded several female athletes sanctioned for the use of prohibited substances.

The list includes 5000m runner Belinda Chemutai, 1500and 500m athlete Janat Chemusto, 5000m runner Prisca Chesang, and most recently Mercyline Chelangat, the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist. The growing number of cases has raised alarm within the athletics fraternity, especially because the affected athletes are all women.

While some athletes may knowingly engage in doping in a bid to enhance performance, officials and coaches acknowledge that others fall victim to ignorance.

In some instances, athletes reportedly ingest banned substances unknowingly while seeking medical treatment, using supplements, or following advice without proper medical guidance. This lack of awareness highlights gaps in education and access to credible medical and nutritional support for athletes.

The fact that doping cases in the last two years have exclusively involved female athletes has sparked serious questions. Why are women seemingly more affected than their male counterparts are?

Uganda Athletics  (UA) publicity  Secretary Abdallah Muhammed partly attributes the surge to training environments outside the country, particularly in Kenya. He noted that many females get married and train across the border.

“It is mainly our girls who train in Kenya. Kenya has previously struggled with doping cases, and this exposure could be a contributing factor,” Muhammed said.

In response to the growing concern, the federation has intensified efforts to combat doping. Uganda Athletics has committed to increasing anti-doping sensitization programs, conducting more frequent and random tests, and lobbying for the establishment of a national anti-doping centre.

Athletics coach Benjamin Njia believes the pressure to perform, particularly among senior athletes, plays a significant role.

“Athletes are under immense pressure to deliver results. Many fail to accept that athletics is a process, not a one-day event. Because of this pressure, some resort to shortcuts,” Njia explained.

As Uganda strives to empower its female athletes and elevate its standing in global athletics, stakeholders agree that fighting doping must go hand in hand with education, support systems, and patience in athlete development.

Without these safeguards, the country risks losing not only medals, but also the careers and dreams of some of its most promising sportswomen.